Foldable compression mop



June 12, 1962 v REBERNAK 3,038,188

FOLDABLE COMPRESSION MOP Filed NOV. 12, 1959 NVENTOR.

Patented June 12, 1962 3,038,188 FOLDABLE COMPRESSION MOP Adolph Rebernalr, Western Springs, 111., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Martin-Marietta Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Maryland Filed Nov. 12, 1959, Ser. No. 852,533

Claims. (Cl. 15119) This invention relates to a foldable compression mop, and more particularly to a sponge mop in which the sponge body is of a novel cross-sectional design whereby upon the bending of the body upon itself, a new and effective action in ridding the mop of foreign matter is brought about.

An object of the invention is to provide, in combination with mechanical means for bending an elongated.

sponge body upon itself, a sponge body of an unusual configuration which, in the bending operation, brings about a rapid and forced discharge of dirty water, etc. A further "object is to provide a sponge mop which is effective in producing a concentration of soiled water and bringing about a compression of surfaces containing such Water to eliminate it prior to the use of a remaining surface of the sponge. A still further object is to provide in such a structure equipped with means for bending an tact with relatively clean water. A still further object is to provide in such a structure for bending, an elongated sponge body element having a pointed or narrowed central portion which first makes contact in the compressing operation before the body in its entirety is compressed.

Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the.

specification proceeds.

The invention is shown, in an illustrative embodiment, by the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a mop and sponge element combination embodying my invention; I

FIG. 2 is an end view of the sponge element separated from the sponge handle structure;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the sponge element bent upon itself to bring about a compression first of the longitudinal central portion of the sponge body;

FIG. 4 is a perspective View of the sponge element;

FIG. 5 is an end View of a modified form of sponge element which may be employed;

FIG. 6 is a View similar to PEG. 5 but showing a sponge element having a different cross-sectional configuration; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing a further form of sponge element.

In the modification illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, 10 designates a sponge body which may be a cellulose sponge, rubber sponge, synthetic or other form of sponge. In the illustration given, the sponge is secured to a pair of spaced plates 11 and 12 to which are affixed threaded studs 13 and 14. A strip of fabric or cloth 15 is placed over the plates 11 and 12, and apertured to receive the studs 13 and 14, the fabric 15 and the plates .11 and 12 being preferably secured by adhesive to the top of the sponge body 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the elongated sponge block 10 is secured by means of the threaded studs 13 by extending the studs through openings in spaced plates 16 and anchoring them thereon by wing nuts 17. The presser plate 16 are pivotally connected at their inner ends to a hollow head member 18 equipped with a threaded collar 19 receiving the mop handle 20. Slidably mounted upon the mop handle 20 is an operating handle 21 equipped at its lower end with a fitting 22, to which are secured by rivets downwardly-extending and diverging arms 23. Secured to the lower-ends of the arms 23 are toggle links or members 24 having spaced fingers connected to the plates 16 by pivot pins 25. Since such manual means for squeezing a mop body are well known in the art, a detailed description herein is believed unnecessary. It is sufficient to provide any mechanical means for supporting an elongated mop body and bending it upon itself to squeeze moisture therefrom.

In the operation heretofore of elongated mop elements which are bent upon themselves to eliminate moisture, it is found that the flat lower surfaces of the elements tend to trap foreign material between said surfaces when they are compressed, with the result that the foreign matter is not entirely eliminated and the removal of such foreign matter is relatively slow. In such prior operations, when flat-surfaced sponge elements are bent upon themselves, it is found that the more tightly the sponge portions are pressed against each other, the more tenaciously is foreign material held'between the compressed surfaces, and it is only after repeated washing and compression that the surfaces are cleaned.

In the practice of my invention, I employ an elongated sponge element which, in the illustration given in FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, has a central narrow portion or panel 26, and extending laterally thereof inclined panels 27 and 28. When such an element is bent upon itself, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the narrow central portion 26 first comes into contact with itself and exerts a central pressure on the sponge, causing the liquid to be discharged laterally and along the inclined walls or panels 27 and 28. In effect, V-shaped recesses are formed between the inclined panels 27 on one side of the sponge and the inclined panels on the other side of the sponge when it is doubled upon itself, and these V-shaped recesses serve as expelling pumps or devices as the sponge in its entirety is compressed. In this manner, there is provided a quick release or discharge of foreign matter from the sponge so that a minimum of washing is required to entirely free the sponge of dirty water.

The sponge element 10 not only provides for the quick release of dirty water, but also provides separate panels 26, 27 and 28 which may selectively be brought into contact with the floor, with the result that after one surface or panel has become soiled, a fresh surface can then 4 be presented to the same fioorarea.

For example, the panel 27 may first be employed in the scrubbing of a floor area, and then subsequently panel 26 may be used. The mop element may then be turned to bring the inclined surace 28 into contact with the floor area. Further, the user may employ the side inclined panels 27 and 28 for scrubbing floor surfaces, finally using the central panel 26 as a squeegee or horizontal cleaning lip for drawing the water away from the scrubbed surfaces. It will be understood that the central panel 26 may be narrowed, if desired, so as to increase the effective area of the side panels 27 and 28. As a result of the arrangement shown, there is provided a sponge having for its cross-sectional area a much increased bottom panel area for contact with the floor surface.

In the modification illustrated in FIG. 5, the sponge element 10a has a forward or front bottom panel 29 and a rear inclined panel 30. With this structure, there is provided a flat forward narrow portion 29 which may slight rocking operation with the panel 30 in contact with the floor.

In the structure shown in FIG. 6, the sponge element b has a wider front panel 32 and a shorter rear inclined panel 33, with the rocker point 34 therebetween.

With both of the structures shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the mop body, with its inclined bottom surfaces, not only provides increased surface mop area, but also increases the speed of removal of soiled water as the sponge body is compressed upon itself. Since the horizontal portions which extend to the lowest point of the sponge body are first pressed against each other, the pressure is transmitted into the interior of the sponge body more deeply along one side of the sponge than another, and this results in the soiled water leaving the sponge body predominantly along the side where the sponge bottom surface is beveled or cut away. The rapid elimination of soiled water in this manner greatly increases the cleaning efiiciency and further enables a dryer sponge to be obtained after the sponge has been cleaned in fresh water following the mopping operation. Such effective cleaning promotes long life in the use of the sponge.

In the modification shown in F1657, the sponge body 100 substantially eliminates the flat or horizontal bottom portion and instead provides two beveled panels 35 and 36 which meet centrally at a point 37. With this structure, the mop may be operated conveniently by the operator with either of the panels 35 or 36 in contact with the floor sothat the handle extends generally at a 45 angle and the central point 37 provides a squeegee point or a rocker point, as heretofore described. When the sponge element is bent upon itself, the bent mop element engages itself along the longitudinalpoint 37 and this area is first compressed, causing the water to be discharged laterally through the V recesses and thus bringing about a rapid removal of soiled water.

Ineach of the mop structures illustrated, there are provided elongated sponge mop elements which may be folded upon themselves and which have angularly-related bottom panels providing working faces and depending portions which are compressed earlier than the remaining portions to bring about the rapid expelling of water laterally of the longitudinal center of the sponge body. The laterally-opening V recesses provided with the elongated sponge body are folded upon themselves to provide discharge panels which gradually narrow to expel the water containing foreignmatter and thus bring about a highly effective cleaning of the soiled bottom surfaces of the mop body in a single squeezing or compressing operation.

While, in the foregoiug specification, I have set forth a specific structure in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating an embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that such details or system of structure may be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention,

I claim:

1. A sponge mop which-comprises a mop head including two plates adapted to be folded toward each other, an elongated sponge body having side walls and a bottom wall comprised of a plurality of longitudinally extending wall sections arranged at obtuse angles to each other, each of said longitudinally extending wall sections which is adjacent a side wall of the sponge body also forming an obtuse angle with said side wall, said bottom wall thereby providing at least two working faces adapted for contact with floor surfaces, means affixing said sponge mop to said mop head, a mop handle secured to said mop head, and means associated with said handle and sponge body for folding said two mop plates toward each other and thereby bending said body upon itself, with said working faces in squeezing contact, along a line gen.- erally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the sponge.

2. A sponge mop which comprises an elongated sponge body'having its bottom provided with a fiat working face flanked by downwardlyand inwardly-slanting walls forming inclined working faces, a mop handle, and means attached to said sponge head and said mop handle for bending said sponge body upon itself transversely of the central portion thereof to bring said working faces in squeezing contact, whereby the longitudinal central portions of said sponge bottom are first brought into contact before'the body in its entirety is squeezed.

3. The structure of claim 2, in which said fiat working surface is a horizontal panel.

4. A foldable compression mop which comprises a handle, a head member carried by the lower end of said handle, plates hingedly connected to said head and extending laterally thereof, an elongated sponge body secured to said plates, a slidable actuating handle carried by said mop handle, and operating link connections between said actuating handle and said plates for moving the same toward each other to fold said mop body upon itself, said mop body having angularly-related longitudinally-extending bottom panels providing working faces adapted to be brought selectively into'engagement with floor areas, the outermost of said longitudinally-extending bottom panels being inclined downwardly and inwardly, whereby upon the folding of the body upon itself, laterally-opening V- recesses are provided for the expulsion of liquid.

5. A sponge mop which comprises an elongated sponge body having its bottom provided with two downwardlyand inwardly-slanting walls forming inclined working faces and terminating in a longitudinal ridge, a mop handle, and means attached to said sponge body and said mop handle for bending said sponge body upon itself transversely of the central portion thereof to bring said working faces in squeezing contact, whereby the two halves of the longitudinal ridge of said sponge bottom are first brought into contact before the body in its entirety is squeezed,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,695,417 Bathurst Nov. 30, 1954 2,869,161 Cooper Jan. 20, 1959 2,892,201 Peterson et al June 30, 1959 2,897,528 Greenleaf Aug. 4, 19 59 

